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Depiction in the series

Outside of the title sequence, the Friendship Express appears in several episodes. It is usually featured with a pink caboose, but in the second version of the title sequence, MMMystery on the Friendship Express, and Maud Pie, the caboose is blue.

Season one

In Over a Barrel, the Mane Six ride a train with a black locomotive pulled by several stallions on a track to Appleloosa. While having a different design from the Friendship Express, this train is referred to as the Friendship Express on page 124 of the My Little PonyguidebookThe Elements of Harmony.

In The Last Roundup, Applejack boards the Express to travel to Canterlot to compete in the rodeo. In the same episode, when Applejack does not return, the rest of the Mane Six board the train to travel to Canterlot to try to find her. When they get a lead, they take the train again to travel to Dodge Junction. In an attempt to lose the rest of the Mane Six in their pursuit, Applejack's carriage crosses a railroad crossing just before the Express arrives. At the end of the episode, Applejack and her friends take the train home to Ponyville. The train also makes a brief appearance in It's About Time, when Twilight, Pinkie and Spike get off it to sneak in at Canterlot.

In Just for Sidekicks, Angel sneaks aboard the Express bound for the Crystal Empire to get back to Fluttershy. Spike, who is taking care of the Mane Six's pets while they are away, boards the train with the Crusaders to retrieve him, and the train pulls away from the station before they can get off. On the return trip to Ponyville, Spike, the Crusaders, and the pets re-board the train and find themselves sharing the Mane Six's train car.

In Games Ponies Play, the Mane Six take the Express to the Crystal Empire to welcome the Equestria Gamesinspector. Later, they meet a pony getting off the Express carrying floral print luggage whom they assume to be the Games inspector. The end of the episode occurs simultaneously with the last train sequence of Games Ponies Play.

Season four

In Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1, Princess Twilight Sparkle's friends take the train from Canterlot back to Ponyville to prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration. In Flight to the Finish, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are about to board the Express to the Crystal Empire, but Scootaloo decides to stay behind. When Rainbow Dash learns of this, she pulls the train's emergency brake.

In Simple Ways, Twilight accompanies Rarity to the train station to greet Trenderhoof as he disembarks the train. Near the end of Maud Pie, Pinkie Pie accompanies her sister Maud on the Express as she travels to her family's rock farm. At the very end, the Mane Six see Maud off as she leaves to get her rocktorate in rock science. In the third act of For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils, Sweetie Belle and her friends take the Express to Canterlot.

In the cold open of Trade Ya!, the Mane Six take the Express to Rainbow Falls for the annual Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange. In the end of the same episode, the Mane Six take the train and share some of the treasures they received on their way back to Ponyville. In Equestria Games, all of the competing athletes and teams take the Express to the Crystal Empire to compete in the Games.

In Party Pooped, Pinkie takes the train to Yakyakistan on a mission to salvage the disastrous Yakyakistani delegation in Ponyville. In Canterlot Boutique, the Mane Six disembark the Express at Canterlot to see Rarity's new boutique. In Made in Manehattan, the train appears during a long shot of Manehattan.

The Friendship Express in Hearthbreakers.

In The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows, the Friendship Express is referred to by name for the first time in the series when Pinkie mentions that Shining Armor and Cadance are taking it instead of the Crystal Empire train. In Hearthbreakers, the Apple family and Pinkie Pie take the Express to the Pie family rock farm for Hearth's Warming. Near the end of the same episode, the Apple family take the train back to Ponyville after they are sent away by the Pies, but Applejack yells for the conductor to stop the train so they can return to the farm.

In The Times They Are A Changeling, Twilight, Starlight and Spike take the rather deserted Friendship Express to the Crystal Empire, but when they get to the station, it is just as empty. In Dungeons & Discords, the Mane Six travel to Yakyakistan via Friendship Express. In Buckball Season, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie take the train to Appleloosa for the upcoming buckball game.

Season seven

In All Bottled Up, the Mane Six take the Express to a friendship retreat in Manehattan. In Rock Solid Friendship, Pinkie and Maud take the train from her graduation ceremony to Ponyville. Later, Pinkie tries to catch the train Maud takes to Ghastly Gorge.

Merchandise

The Friendship Express has been released twice, first in a playset with one train car and a Pinkie Pie toy and again in the "Friendship Express Train Around Town Playset" with three train cars and Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Apple Bloom toys. The Around Town Playset is compatible with separate releases of "Fluttershy's Nursery Train Car" and "Sweetie Belle's Ice Cream Train Car". In each toy release of the Friendship Express, it is called the "Friendship Express Train" with a trademark symbol. A new version of the Friendship Express Train is to be released in the Explore Equestria toy line.

The Friendship Express is also featured in promotional episode images and on the front and back cover of the DVD The Friendship Express and on the front cover of the DVD Friends Across Equestria.